Apparatus for cleaning articles



Jan. 5, 1932. H. w. JESPERSEN APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ARTICLES;

Filed Jan. 2, 1929 Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-HELGO WIGGO JESPERSEN, OF WESTERN SPRINGS, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOW'IETEBN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW. YORK, N. Y ACORPORATION 01 NEW YORK APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ARTICLES Applicationfiled January 2, 1929. Serial No. 329,889.

This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning articles, and moreparticularly apparatus for cleaning flexible belts used 1n paper makingmachines.

5 In depositing pulp insulation directly upon wire cores, it has beenthe custom, 1n some instances, to employ moving belts of felt on whichthe pulp covered cores are carried. After a period of operation it isusually necessary to remove from the felt an accumulation of fibrousmatter deposited thereon by association with the pulp covered cores, andit has been the practice in some instances to remove the particles ofpulp b saturating the felt with water and subjectmgit to the action ofwhipping arms, subsequently passing the felt over a suction box toremove the excess moisture.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for adequatelycleaning a flexible article with a minimum amount of wear thereon.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision, in a wireinsulating machine employing a felt web for supporting wires and theirattached coatings of pulp, of a rotating perforated cylinder aroundwhich the felt is carried. The cylinder surrounds a stationary centermember having two chambers therein, the first of which, in the order oftheir engagement with the felt, subjects the felt to water underpressure to free it of collected fibres and the second of which subjectsthe felt to suction to remove the excess moisture therefrom.

A better understanding of the invention may be derived from thefollowing detailed description read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part there of, and in which I Fig. 1 is adiagrammatic fragmentar elevation of a felt cleaning device embo yingthe features of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and includes adiagrammatic showing of an apparatus for producing forced currents ofair and water.

Referring now to the drawings in which similar parts throughout theviews are indicated by identical reference numerals, a cleaning devicegenerally denoted by the numeral 10 is shown having a cylindrical drum11, with a surface 12 having funnel shaped perforations 14 regularlyarranged thereon in transverse rows} Extending across the surface of thedrum with each row of perforations, there isia transverse groove 16. Thedrum also includes oppositely disposed end portions 17 "-17'and a hollowaxle 18 which extends beyond each end of the drum and is journaled inend housings l9 and 20 by suitable roller bearings 21. Located withinthe cylindrical member 11 is a": stationary member comprising a frame 24and "an associated pressure chamber 25 and a suction chamber 27. Aportion of the framework contiguous to the underside of the drum surface12 constitutes bearing portions 28, and is accuratel machined andclosely fitted to the undersi e of thesurface. A water duct 29 isconnected with the pressure chamber 25 and a force pump 30 is connectedto the water duct 29 for furnishing a flow of water under pressure tothe pressure chamber 25. At the end of an air pipe 31 a suction fan-32is provided for maintaining a partial vacuum in the suction chamber 27.A stationary member is secured by bolts or other suitable securing means33 in an end block 35, which forms a part of the end housing 19, for thepurpose of maintaining rigidly in a stationary position the center framemember 24. A felt web 86 is shown encircling the lower portion of thedrum 11 and so moving that it will rotate the drum in a clockwisedirection. An,accumulation of pulp fibres and other objectionablematerial which may cling to the belt before it is subjected to thecleaning operation is indicated by the numeral 37 From the foregoing itmay be observed 7 that as the felt 36 which is to be cleaned, is

carried around the cylindrical drum 11, the fouled portion is firstsubjected to a flow of water under a heavy head of pressure outwardlyfrom the pressure chamber 25. This water is forced outwardly through thefunnel shaped apertures 12 in the surface of the drum and is diffusedagainst every portion of the under surface of the belt by passagethrough the transverse grooves 16. A suflicient head of pressure ismaintained in the pumping system to permit the felt to be saturated andthoroughly cleaned by the pressure of the water during the time requiredfor the fouled portion to pass over the mouth of the pressure chamber25. Although after passing the pressure chamber the felt is found to bequite free of accumulated dbris, it is so saturated with water as to beunfit for use in a paper making machine. However, upon the continuedrotation of the drum 11 the saturated portion of the felt is carriedbeyond the central bearin portion 28 and passed over the mouth 0 thesuction chamber 27 and there subjected to the air pressure existing overthat area caused by the partial vacuum maintained in the suctionchamber. The water contained in the saturated portion of the felt isthus removed from the felt, carried inwardly through the transversegrooves 16 and the funnel shaped apertures 14 of the drum 11 through theair duct 31, and is disposed of in an suitable conventional manner notshown. he felt portion having been thus practically rid of its watercontent is sufliciently dry to suit it for use 1n theother portions ofpaper making machine without further treatment.

The bearing portions 28 of the stationary central frame member 24 are somachined and fitted as to insure that no loss of suction or pumping weris suffered in the boxes 25 and 27 suc as might be occasioned by leakagebetween the bearing ortions 28 and the interior surface of the rum 11.However, this result may be accomplished without imposing anobjectionable burden of friction on the mechanism of the paper makingmachine which propels the passage of the felt.

By use of the funnel shaped apertures 14 and the transverse grooves 16,it is possible to thoroughly clean the surface of any flexible articlewhether same be of a porous material or of a non-porous material.

Under suitable conditions the use of the water pump 30 may be dispensedwith if the pressure throughout the water system employed is suflicientto force the water outwardly through the apertures and felt with theresult that adhering fibres and dirt may be washed therefrom.

The apparatus-described is capable of various modifications other thanthat herein described and illustrated since the form shown is merely aconvenient and useful one of the invention which is capable of othermodifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a paper making machine,-a perforated rotary cylinder, a porousbelt carried by the cylinder, means centered with respect to thecylinder for producin radially and oppositely directed currents of airand water respectively, and means associated therewith for guiding thecurrents through the belt.

2. In a paper making machine, a perforated rotary cylinder, a porousbelt carried by the cylinder, means for producing a current of air andan oppositely directed current of water, and means located interiorly ofthe cylinder for causing the currents to flow throu h the belt.

3. n a paper makin machine, a continuous porous belt, a per oratedrotary means for carrying the belt, and means for producing a current ofair and an oppositely directed current of water and means associatedtherewith for causing the oppositely directed currents to flow throughthe belt.

4. In a paper makin machine, a continuous porous belt, a per oratedrotary means for carrying the belt, means for producing a current of airand an oppositely directed current of water, and means locatedinteriorly of the cylinder for causing the oppositely directed currentsto flow through and clean the belt.

5. In a paper making machine, a rotary body, a porous belt carried bythe rotating body, means for producing a current of water, an associatedmeans for producing a suction of air, and means located interiorly ofthe rotatin body for causing the water to flow throng the belt and forcausing the suction means to engage the belt subsequent to itssubjection to the current of water.

6. An apparatus for cleaning articles comprising a perforated cylinderfor carrying the article, a center-member having a plurality ofchambers, and means for causin oppositely directed currents of air andli uid respectivel to flow between the cham rs an the cy inder.

7. An apparatus for cleaning articles comprising a perforated rotarycylinder for carrying the articles, a stationary center membertherewithin having a chamber for forcing a current of liquid matteroutwardly throu h the perforations of the cylinder, 9. secon chamber forforcing a current of air inwardly through the erforations, means forcausing a flow of liquld matter in the first chamber and means forcausing a flow of air in the second chamber.

8. An apparatus for cleaning articles comprising a perforated rotarycylinder for carrying the articles, a center member having a pluralityof chambers for guiding currents of fluid through the perforations ofthe cylinder, and means associated therewith for creating oppositelydirected currents of air I

